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Top 10 Best Dog Parks in Italy

Best parks for the dog

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Top 10 Best Dog Parks in Italy

Our four-legged friends need to run and play freely. So here is the list of the best dog parks in the world.

Best parks for the dog
Best dog parks: places to eat for dogs and humans (Photo Unsplash)

Like all of us human beings, even our dogs feel the need and have the right to spend some moments of their life in total relaxation, doing things that make them feel good and following what are their primordial instincts. Each animal wants to move within its environment which, in the specific case of the dog, is not just about his home, the place he shares with his human people, but about the real nature, that is the original place from which he is from.

The puppies were created with these characteristics and, therefore, necessities: they must run, play, socialize with each other, even stay a little on their own and walk freely without the yoke of the oppressive leash that holds them around their necks.

These things a good human adoptive parent should allow, but not in any context. That’s why it’s so important to visit from time to time, the best parks for the dog in Italy: beautiful locations, able to restore the soul not only of dog but also that of his loyal owner.

Best dog parks in Italy: 10 places to visit in the company of Dogs

Best parks for the dog
Best parks for dogs: destinations for our next holidays (Photo Unsplash)

What can make a naturalistic place a park suitable for dogs, or even one of the best parks for the dog? What criteria must be established for a dog park to be labeled as one of the best? If you are the foster parent of a small dog (or even more than one), then you will know how necessary it is to have a spirit ready to sacrifice: it is not always said that what is comfortable for us is also comfortable for him and, despite this however, his needs come first. If a place is particularly welcoming to our dog and makes it feel special, we will remember these special considerations and would like to go back (of course, your dog would also be happy to sleep on a pile of your dirty laundry, but that’s another story) . Dogs are very sensitive individuals: they don’t need much, but what little they need is essential that they have it.

According to statistical data collected by our National Observatory, seventy-eight percent of pets on vacation are dogs. So what are the best destinations, and what do we look for in an area when planning a holiday with dog? Mainly, access to activities, shops, restaurants and things that involve and entertain our furry friend. A real welcome for pets: hotels that claim to be “pet friendly” should include among their main services, the basic ones, also many small attentions reserved for guests’ puppies, such as pet-sitting, the spa for animals, trips and a veterinary infirmary.

In any case, the main thing that any tourist destination should have, if you travel in the company of your four-legged friend, is the proximity to a reserve or a large place totally surrounded by nature, where dogs can safely run, jump and play. So here we list what they are the best dog parks in Italy. We advise you to look for accommodation near these locations, if not inside them, directly, to live a fantastic and unforgettable experience.

1. Stelvio National Park (Lombardy and Trentino Alto Adige)

Do you know the enchanting setting of the most beautiful fairy tales of all time? Can you imagine it? The shady woods, characterized by dense vegetation; the panorama of the white peaks that recall the next step of a long journey, as in “The Lord of the Rings”; lakes, rivers, crystal clear mountain streams and all other sources of gushing water that emit a rhythmic and relaxing sound; clean and healthy air and sunlight. This is the oldest and largest park in Italy; and it is also the absolute best place to spend time in the company of your four-legged friend.

2. Gran Sasso and Monti della Langa National Park (Abruzzo, Lazio and Marche)

Among the best parks for dogs, this certainly deserves the second place, there is no doubt about it. First of all, it is located in the center of Italy, which can make it comfortable and easy to reach. Furthermore, what can be found inside this park does not exist anywhere else: the place, in addition to presenting a really large expanse of unspoiled nature, is characterized by the presence of many hermitages and above all medieval castles (in some of you can even stay here). The last Apennine glacier is located right here, inside the park boundaries. Both this and the breathtaking scene that will appear in front of you, as soon as you pass the first escarpment, it will be worth a short stretch of strenuous trekking, for you and for dog.

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3. Gargano National Park (Puglia)

One of the most characteristic and important things of this Italian park, and which puts it in third place on our list, is biodiversity: there is a plurality of ecosystems that coexist within these over one hundred and twenty thousand hectares of uncontaminated nature, which dates back even to prehistory. The secular trees, the plants and not only; the animals that make up a varied and very particular fauna (birds, mammals, reptiles and insects of many different species); the testimonies of a very distant era, distant even from the first footprint of man on this planet. All these are the ingredients that make the Apulian park an excellent place to spend quality time together with our pets. Dog will also appreciate the visit.

4. Pollino National Park (Basilicata and Calabria)

There are three basic reasons to visit this enchanting and decidedly timeless place (it feels like you are inside a bubble of pleasure and health) and are the following:

  • the dog can stay on the loose, as this is a location specially designed for them too, and therefore you can be happy to allow dog a little freedom (he deserves it)
  • recently it has entered the list of UNESCO’s precious heritages, so it would be interesting to visit it even just to become a culture
  • there is a living being, a plant, which grows only in this area, is practically the only one in the world of its species and is indigenous to the park

5. Dogland (Veneto)

Yes, it is exactly as it seems: we have stopped talking about nature reserves to veer towards a completely different topic. Now the places we are interested in and that are going to be included in the list of the best dog parks in Italy are amusement parks, such as Dogland, which is a kind of Disneyland for four-legged friends. This is a genius that, like almost all the others, comes from the New World, but in Veneto they have managed to make it great, creating one of the best playgrounds in Europe, an unmissable destination for those who have a dog and want to see him happy .

6. The Duke’s garden (Emilia – Romagna)

It is practically a wonderful farmhouse surrounded by greenery, a boundless expanse of nature where there are many services offered to our animal friends. Among the things that the structure, really well managed, offers there are:

  • dog restaurant
  • very comfortable bunks
  • organization of trips and games
  • pet-sitting
  • training sessions at the highest levels
  • spa and pampering

7. Delizia d’Este (Emilia – Romagna)

Best parks for the dog
Best parks for the dog: Delizia d’Este in Ferrara, Emilia – Romagna (Photo Unsplash)

This is a farmhouse, but not only. The truly trained and experienced staff in the care of dogs and pets in general is in charge of checking our furry friends around the clock, as well as their grooming and fun. In fact, in the immediate vicinity of the structure where humans and dogs can stay, there are ponds and wonderful springs of water, where games specially designed for dog have been set up. A place, as well as magical and relaxing, therefore, also incredibly fun and full of emotions.

8. Dog area of ​​Porto Mantovano (Lombardy)

It will not be a nature reserve, an enchanting and romantic farmhouse or a playground of great pretensions, but it is certainly the best equipped dog area in our whole country, at least according to those who have been there and have reviewed the location . Almost everyone agrees that the area is equipped with everything a person in the company of a puppy may need.

9. Doggy Park (Sicily)

This park is an immense green area full of relaxation facilities and games suitable for dogs that is located right inside the municipality of Palermo. A small (not so small) happy island, in practice; an earthly paradise for all the dogs of the city, and of the province, and their owners. You cannot miss the opportunity to enjoy this place, if you live in Palermo or you are on the right holiday in Sicily.

10. Parco Uditore (Sicily)

We speak not so much of the park itself, which has a beautiful history, but is not designed specifically for pets, but of the area recently built inside, very large, and made to allow even our beloved dogs to play, leisure and especially to socialize with each other (which is very important for their training and education).

Best dog parks in Italy: 6 important things to consider

Best parks for the dog
Best dog parks: how should they be made? (Photo Unsplash)

The dog parks where the puppies run away from the leash They have long been the fastest growing segment of urban parks in the United States, increasing by almost ninety percent since 2007. As cities continue to build and open pet-friendly areas, how can we realize that the parks we are made available suitable for the game and the general pastime of our puppies? How do we distinguish the best dog parks from a simple poorly equipped green area?

Leslie Lowe is a landscape architect who helped design theHugh Rogers Wag Park in Whitefish, Montana, considered one of the ten best dog parks in the American territory in 2015 by many thematic magazines. Its park includes a wide range of dog-friendly features, including rock climbing, tunnels, paved paths, a splash pond, shade trees and an agility course. He is planning another in Fernie, British Columbia, and is writing a book on dog park design. Lowe, who has spent decades working with hunting dogs, believes that a good dog park reproduces the wild experience inherent in the canine DNA and that pushes our furry friends to always look for a way to move, run and bite whatever happens to them within reach: in this way dogs can they feel comfortable, as they are in an environment that is naturally familiar.

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Many architects don’t really understand dogs. They are planning parks like “Well, let’s put a fence around”, He says. But when my dogs are in a natural environment, they jump on the trunks, climb the rocks, go under the large raised roots of the trees that create intriguing tunnels that are really fun for them. There is a variety of different sensations that you are giving them, rather than just a flat grassy park with nothing inside.

Lowe has very clear ideas about how real dog parks should be built, there are no half measures in this case. So, he shared with us all the knowledge derived from his direct work experiences and which led to the construction of many enchanting locations for pets in the United States.

1. Give dogs room to run around

Best parks for the dog
Best dog parks: give the dog room to jump and run (Photo Unsplash)

It’s not the easiest thing to do in often cramped cities, but it’s crucial, so problems don’t develop right away.

If you have a small one-acre dog park with narrow entrances, then everyone gathers at the gate, says Lowe. So a shy dog ​​or a dog that comes in and is not comfortable, suddenly you can’t really control, and that’s when the triggering reactions occur. A pandemonium could happen to put so many different dogs in close contact and, above all, they do not yet know each other. It could be a very bold move and certainly not safe for your puppy’s well-being. If there is not enough space to build a park, better not a park, because the side effects would prove disastrous.

Even if there were spaces separated by a fence that could be used for let the dog walk, at that point and with that very dangerous proximity to other animals, the owner should not feel comfortable leaving his dog without a leash. If, on the other hand, I have an open and very large space, and I can take people and dogs in the park, removing the leash is essential to eliminate tension, says Lowe.

2. And give him even smaller spaces

Some dogs benefit from a fenced area away from crowds and traffic. Small dogs they may feel intimidated by large dogs, for example; there is even a phenomenon called “predatory drift” in which a larger race with normally peaceful behavior (for example, German shepherds) will suddenly attack a smaller dog, as if it were prey. Parks often designate these small reserves as “small dog areas”, although this is not always accurate (and who wants to claim to be tax on the size, anyway?)

I like to call it a “special use area”. Because sometimes you have shy dogs or bigger dogs who are uncomfortable in the large park and are definitely happier in the smaller area where they are less under pressure, says Lowe. There are therefore small parks inside the park, made especially for dogs that are still not totally able to socialize and who need their time to come to the surface.

3. Give them a challenge

Best parks for the dog
Best parks for the dog: with both physical and mental games (Photo Unsplash)

I think it’s important not only to exercise the dogs’ physique, but also to exercise their brains, says Lowe. In terms of topography, Lowe likes to give dog parks a series of surfaces: flat fields, rolling hills, tufts of rocks on which puppies can jump. I think dogs are like people, they like variety, He says.

Lowe has also installed an obstacle course in the Whitefish park with boulders and tunnels for dogs to explore.

4. The water must always be felt to flow

Water is a must, both for drinking and for dogs who like to dive like a professional wrestler who dives from the highest ropes. The water fountains that serve both dogs and their owners are a good solution. Swimming pools offer excellent exercise for older dogs who cannot run well, but should be regularly tested so that puppies do not contract anything bad that could harm their health in any way. Perhaps they should also be fenced in for owners who don’t want their dogs to spread water and mud at home at the end of the day. As for the challenge, the water elements can also keep dogs mentally engaged. Fernie park Lowe’s has an interactive water game that dogs can reach with their paws to activate jets of water from the ground.

5. Make sure no poisonous plants grow

Best parks for the dog
Best dog parks: watch out for poisonous plants (Photo Unsplash)

Pay close attention to the elimination of toxic plants, such as the sago palm, which can cause liver failure and death in dogs that eat it. Trees, on the other hand, are almost necessary, as they provide shade for dogs and people on hot days and a nice aesthetic boost. Of course, dogs really appreciate trees, Lowe says, though you may have to protect the tree trunk from being mistaken for a fixed urinal from pets. He’s not kidding: regular canine pee showers can damage trees, causing “ammonium toxicity” and making their bark weak and vulnerable to disease and burrowing insects.

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The grass would seem a good choice for the surface of a park, as it is pleasant, soft on the paws and retains all the earthy and disgusting smells that dogs love to suck. But after the rains and the stress of repeated trampling and excavation, not to mention the chemical burning of the urine, the grass parks can resemble muddy infernal holes with craters in the open air. For this reason, many parks (especially city parks) have hard surfaces or fake grass, which is filled with soap and bleach. Lowe likes to wear an asphalted track in a park, so that people can walk continuously without eroding the ground, and also to better serve people with disabilities and families with strollers.

6. Human visitors must be involved in the entertainment of the puppies

Keeping the place clean depends on the bipedal guests. This requires good signage and perhaps a group of volunteers who patrol the park and collect waste when they see it, says Lowe. Decent parks should provide unloading stations and Strategically positioned rubbish bins, although it is a matter of human responsibility to use them correctly.

The arrangement of the various spaces for humans can also help the park to be a good place for dogs as well. Making some benches and a good lighting system is fundamental to obtain not only an elegant park for dogs, but a place of relaxation for every person who owns a dog in the city: if a service is impeccably rendered, then the citizens they are even happy to pay it or finance it out of their own pocket. I think Whitefish raised two hundred thousand dollars in donations to build that park, and that they were donations from all over the United States and Canada., says Lowe. When people travel and see these really interesting parks, they make it a fixed destination and a well-known tourist attraction. The Whitefish park attracts fifty thousand users per year, he says; it is in a community of about six thousand and six hundred individuals.

Best dog parks in Italy: because they are so important for Dog’s well-being

Best parks for the dog
Best parks for the dog: they are fundamental for his well-being (Photo Unsplash)

In addition to food, water and pampering, exercise is the best gift you can give to your pet. Whether it’s a walk in the neighborhood on a leash or a trip to the dog park, regular exercise is a vital part of general health and well-being of your dog.

However, even a relatively simple activity such as taking a walk poses a risk of injury to your dog. The following tips will help you protect your puppy while still enjoying the benefits of regular dog walks:

  • Paw pads: Your dog’s paw pads are more sensitive than they appear. Avoid surfaces that could damage the bearing such as hot asphalt, dirt or sand. If you’re not sure it’s too hot, test the surface temperature with your palm or bare foot. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your pet. Avoid alleys or wherever there are broken glass or other debris that could also be dangerous for your dog’s paws.
  • Strangers can be a danger: keep your puppy away from dogs you don’t know, especially those who are not on a leash. An unfamiliar dog can be aggressive or carry an illness.
  • Watch the weather: if it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog. Limit your summer walks to the early hours of the morning and evening, when the sun is less intense.

Best dog parks: yes or no?

Best parks for the dog
Best dog parks: they are useful, but what for? (Photo Unsplash)

The purpose of a dog park is to offer an area where animals can move freely without a leash. Dog parks can provide your dog with physical and mental stimuli, as well as numerous opportunity to socialize. Our four-legged friend is not the only one who benefits from a trip to a dog park. Parents of pets can have fun socializing with each other, playing and bonding with their dogs, and exercising leash-free training skills.

Is the dog park the right one for your dog? The ideal thing, before deciding whether to take a trip to the dog park, is to have a healthy, neutered or neutered dog that enjoys the company of other dogs and people. Self your dog is overly shy or aggressive or having health problems, a dog park may not be appropriate. THE unvaccinated puppies they should never visit a dog park, as the risk of disease transmission is greater in these particular places due to the sheer volume of individuals your puppy may come into contact with.

What to look for? Ideally, you should visit a dog park first without your dog, to make sure it’s the right park for both. A dog park should have the following traits:

  • Enough footage to let dogs run freely without being too crowded, as crowding can lead to tensions that can lead to fighting
  • Trash cans and bags available for easy cleaning of waste
  • Protections like fences and gates (this is important, even if you trust your dog to answer when called)
  • Drinking water and shade
  • Separate exercise area for smaller or younger dogs

It is important to always keep an eye on your puppy and monitor his behavior towards other dogs in the park. Prevent your dog from “crowding” together with other puppies by being followed continuously by you in different parts of the area. Stop a fight before it even starts, preventing your dog from interacting with another that looks apparently more tense than playful.

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